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Deadbeat "Bipolar" Roommate Racks Up Bills And Then Moves Back To Her Mother's

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  • 06-05-2008, 01:03 PM
    jinaiunknown
    Deadbeat "Bipolar" Roommate Racks Up Bills And Then Moves Back To Her Mother's
    My question involves a roommate in the State of: Tennessee

    I signed a year lease on a duplex last June with two friends, under the verbal agreement that they would replace me in September when I moved into a dorm. Our rental company knew and agreed, given that my replacement make the same amount I did.

    In September I moved out but continued to pay rent because they couldn't find another roommate. However, the utilities were in one of my other roommate's names, and while we'd been splitting it, I made it clear that it was no longer my problem as I was no longer using those. (In fact, I was only still paying rent because I was legally bound to.)

    Things got worse when that roommate (who had already borrowed $200 earlier in the year for tags) lost two jobs-because she thinks she's bipolar-in a row and then made no further effort to pay her bills (except her phone -__-) after October, forcing me to cover her portion of the rent as well. About this time my brother needed a place to stay and thus took up my empty room but ended up being unable to replace me on the lease, so I helped him and our other roommate pay the utilities too.

    That roommate stopped staying there by November but left all of her things until Feburary when my brother left too. She never notified our rental company and never had the utilities taken out of her name, so I continued to pay 2/3s of the rent until May, when the utilities were turned off and we were told we'd need a brand new lease (or pay off the other bill) to turn them back on. Rather, my other roommate and I decided to move and now have a new lease on a different duplex, but with the same company.

    When I tried to talk to her about paying back the $1400 she owes me, she tried to give me a car (that was in her mother's name) that does not run. In fact, I bought a starter and a battery for that car (it's also infested with ants, needs a flywheel, and new tires) for her, but she refused to take them with her when I refused to accept that as complete payment. She thinks she shouldn't have to pay me because the utility bill got ran up with late charges, but I told her that that was between her and our other roommate and she owes me twice that amount anyway. Am I right?

    I don't know very much about the legal system and I'm kinda scared, because I never wrote things down, but I can get my bank statements and maybe the money order slips. Do I have a case? What can I do about this?
    Sorry this is so long, but I appreciate any advice.
  • 06-05-2008, 02:34 PM
    cyjeff
    Re: Deadbeat "Bipolar" Roommate Racks Up Bills And Then Moves Back To Her Mother's
    Take her to small claims court.

    You will only be able to sue her for those monies you have proof of.
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